The civil society group, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, says the ceasefire and transitional security monitors have ignored reporting on sexual and gender based violence.

The monitors reported violations of the agreement between December last year and March this year in conflict-affected areas across the country.

According to an analysis by CEPO, the reports of the monitors do not reflect sexual and gender-based violence but focused on documenting and reporting military violations.

It says zero reporting of the critical issue is ‘wrong and unacceptable’ and undermining the obligation of contributing to respect for human rights.

“This act of CSTAMM for ignoring reporting on the committed…incidents will empower the perpetrators of SGBV cases not feeling guilty,” the rights group said in a statement.

It called on the leadership and the senior gender advisor at JMEC to make quick intervention in the next report of the ceasefire monitors.

CEPO also urged the AU Peace and Security Council and the UN Special Representative on Prevention of Sexual violence in Conflict to intervene.

Towards the end of 2014, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Mrs. Zainab Hawa Bangura travelled to Bentiu, to engage with the local commander of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), government authorities, UN staff, humanitarian workers and survivors of sexual violence.

After the visit to the area, the Special Representative described the situation of sexual violence there as ‘rampant’.

“What I witnessed in Bentiu is the worst I have seen in my almost 30 years in dealing with this issue. This is because of the combination of chronic insecurity, unimaginable living conditions, acute day-to-day protection concerns and rampant sexual violence,” said SRSG Bangura.

“The bodies of women and children are the battleground of this conflict. In the words of a woman activist I met, ‘It is not just about rape, it is to inflict unimaginable pain and destruction.’”